By Chijioke Okoronkwo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says there is need for synergy between the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Supreme Courts of member states.
Osinbajo was the special guest of honour and keynote speaker at inaugural session of the 2022 African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights attended by leaders from across the continent and beyond on Monday in Arusha, Tanzania.
The theme of the event is: “The African Court and the Africa we want”.
The vice president proposed that the court after its own ruling, should make some recommendations for the consideration of the Supreme Courts of member states.
Osinbajo said, however, that by extant constituted documents of the court and the AU Charter, the court was not in position to adopt the proposal but amendments could be made in that regard.
He expressed concerns that the gains of democracy in the continent might be reversed by the recent coups d’états in Mali, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, and Burkina Faso and the attempted coup in Guinea Bissau.
“The AU has made it clear that unconstitutional changes of government will not be a part and cannot be a part of the Africa we want.
“It is refreshing that the African Court is keenly aware of this imperative; in the case of Association for Peace and Human Rights and Cote d’Ivoire, the court held that the African Charter on Democracy forms part of the African human right purpose for which it has jurisdiction to interpret and apply .
“And I respectfully urge the court to reinforce these emerging norms whenever it has the opportunity to interpret the charter and related instruments.
“And also to stress the necessity for good governance as a safeguard against undemocratic and unconstitutional upheavals in African states.”
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn